Medical Sleuthing Identified the Dangers of Thalidomide
Briefly

Widukind Lenz, the German pediatrician, uncovered a disturbing correlation between thalidomide and the epidemic of birth defects in infants. His public revelations in 1961 prompted an urgent examination of drug safety regulations.
Frances Oldham Kelsey stood firm against Richardson-Merrell's push to approve thalidomide without sufficient safety data, exemplifying the critical role of regulatory scrutiny in protecting public health.
The 1960s marked a tumultuous era, with major cultural shifts and emerging medical controversies intertwining, as the public grappled with the consequences of pharmaceutical practices and regulatory failures.
As President Kennedy focused on space and civil rights gained momentum, the scandal surrounding thalidomide represented a significant public health crisis that would reshape drug approval processes.
Read at www.scientificamerican.com
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